Chronic Syndrome Comes Early...

OR never went away. Have been checking out the 7 day forecasts all week long and I suppose my ride tomorrow will be CLOUDY. I don't know if I LOVE looking at the weather or HATE it. Here is what I found on the web today...

HO HUM

blase
Main Entry:bla·sé

Pronunciation:\blä-ˈzā\

Variant(s):also bla·se

Function:adjective

Etymology:French

Date:1819

1 : apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment: world-weary
2 : sophisticated , worldly-wise
3 : unconcerned

Have been feeling a little blue recently. According to the definition for Blase I could be sophisticated or worldly-wise, neither of which appeal to me. Or unconcerned, thinking on that one. I have to admit that I have been feeling a lack of pleasure or excitement, but it being a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment, I'm not sure how that is possible. Perhaps being tired because I do so much, now that I can see that.

OR I am in need of a vacation...I think that might be the answer. Not so much a vacation for a get-away, but a vacation from WORK. Add that in with all that I have been doing and that equals tiredness on my part. Fortunately I will have a week off from work and I'm looking forward to a little rest and certainly staying away from work for a week!

Dilbert goes Green

Dilbert is not one of my favorite comic strips...but every once in a while there is a good one...

(Click comic to enlarge)

WORST DAY RIDE

Well, Tom and I did this ride yet again and we figured out that we are not much into urban rides anymore. It would have been something different if we had Scott with us, but he was on a mini-vacation with his family and Tom and I went out alone. Not that I don't like riding with Tom, I do...he just knows his way around Portland much better than I do and rides a little more aggressively. Living over here in Clark County and riding at the times that I do I don't encounter so much in the way of traffic.

We were originally going to do the 40 mile challenge loop, but with the weather being so iffy while we were getting our gear loaded up and getting cold almost immediately, the thought of riding 40 miles in iffy weather, not to mention COLD, was more than we were ready for.

So 18 miles later I felt completely unfulfilled and we ended up coming home and going for a REAL ride, one that I felt we had to work for kind of. So, nearly 15 miles later I felt better and after a stop at Starbucks on a gorgeous afternoon, my day was complete!

Next ride will most likely be the Monster Cookie Ride out of Salem at the end of April...now that one should be good. A metric century! Looking forward to some real riding then.

February 9-15, 2009

This was dinner week. It seems like we don't do too badly with dinner around here!

February 9, 2009 - Probably my favorite quick pasta sauce, Tomato Pesto....oh so good!

February 10, 2009 - We tried yet another Salmon Cake recipe this week, this one was pretty good, from Eating Well. February 11, 2009 - I had a dentist appointment this afternoon so I was wanting something pretty easy - Quesadillas with shredded rotisserie chicken and homemade guacamole.

February 12, 2009 - We had lots of salmon left over so more salmon cakes, but this time on whole wheat buns. Tried to make it healthy with asparagus and some fruit. The fruit was not my idea. I don't really like fruit with dinner.
February 13, 2009 - Friday Night is always eat out night. We end up at Sushi Tsunami probably every other week. Mmmmm, unagi...
February 14, 2009 - Instead of going out for Valentine's dinner we made a GIANT lasagna for dinner. After we assembled the GIANT casserole we had enough to make a 8x8 sized one which would probably have been the more appropriate size, but hey, now I don't have to think about what to make for lunch or dinner...or whatever.
February 15, 2009 - We met Kristen & Cameron at Bortolami's for dinner tonight. Matt was out of town with son #1 - skiing. Ciclismo Veggie Pizza and Pink Jersey Meaty Special - oh my, so good!

7 DAY FORECAST

Yeah, so the forecast shows a snowflake on Sunday....NOOOOOO!!!! Well, okay, it is the Worst Day Ride on Sunday, but still...snow?

Too Stinkin' FUNNY!

February 2-8, 2009

February 2, 2009 - I was trying yet another setting on the camera and found that when you take a picture in the night scene mode, that you have to wait until the camera is done taking the picture before you move the camera. I don't like that mode.

February 3, 2009 - On my way home from work I saw these two cyclists waiting to cross over Hwy 99.

February 4, 2009 - Waiting in traffic at the light at 134th Street. Have been taking this route quite often recently, just for something different.
February 5, 2009 - These are the post boxes that are located at Target. I don't know how many times I have walked past these things and not noticed that they were here. Especially the drop box. Who knew?
February 6, 2009 - This is Adrienne who has done sewing stuff for the department over the past two years. This particular day she had several of the employees (including me) who needed to have some alterations done to different garments. 1 Dress Uniform coat, 1 Carharts coat, 2 pair of slacks and my trench coat and a denim jacket. She left the stations around 1100 and was back by 1530! We were all amazed, but then she said that she would not have done everything in one day on any other day, she was coming back anyway. She is amazing!

February 7, 2009 - Met up with Mark & Robin for a ride and after doing the bridges we made a stop at the Heritage Place Starbucks. Here are our bikes.

February 8, 2009 - Tom decided to give my buggy a bath and decided to not change out of his running clothes since they needed to be washed anyway. Check out them boots!

Big Long Ride

Yesterday Tom and I met Mark & Robin at their house for a long ride...longer than any ride that we have done at this time of the year. We did the I-205 to Interstate Bridge Ride or what I call Bridge to Bridge which was 39 miles for Tom and I starting from our house. It was a perfect day, almost warm and we even sat outside at the Heritage Place Starbucks. We thought it was the sun that was keeping us warm until we found that there are heaters above the outside tables! Now that is fancy!

Outside of M & R's House

Tom' took a self-portrait while he was waiting for us to return with the beverages

Getting ready to head out again Ooooh....pretty bikes!

Groundhog Day Movie Clip

Haven't watched this movie in a long time...it's probaby time to put it on Netflix!

Happy Groundhog Day

(click comic to enlarge)

January 26 - February 1, 2009

I had a plan for my photos this week...but by the time Monday evening rolled around I had not taken a photo of anything...nothing! So I decided that this would be Decaf week...

January 26 - Here he is...MR DECAF - lounging on his favorite piece of furniture - it could be because the warming blanket is on and the heater is on and pointed in his direction. He isn't that spoiled ;)

January 27 - Oh look, another shot of him lounging. He does get up every once in a while.

January 28 - What a handsome boy!

January 29 - The only way he'll get my attention while I'm sitting at the computer - just sit in the way!

January 30 - New scratch pads for the Mr D. It took a couple of days for him to totally accept these, the size of them must have thrown him off.

January 31 - OOP - lounging again.

February 1 - Second favorite place would be sitting on the kitchen cart and looking out the window at the birds.